Many years ago, I used to do “theatrical Christian ministries.” That was actually my plan- to become a minister with a theatrical focus and produce ALL the passion plays.

Funny how having a baby out of wedlock can change your focus.

Anyway, a part of the theatrical ministries was pantomime. A kind of acting out the verses of the song. It was super easy to do with 90’s Christian rock. DC Talk, Newsboys, and Michael W Smith were my favorites. Lots of imagery. Carmen has imagery too, but he’s a lot more brimstone and anger than I generally like in my ministries.

Also, it’s really hard to get hell fire down just right in pantomime. It looses something.

One of my favorites was to take a contemporary love song and perform it as pantomime for my congregation. I had helped to start a contemporary worship service at my church, and these pantomimes were a big hit with the mid-twenties adults trying to stay cool with Christ. I also learned you can take any Bryan Adams song and pantomime the crucifixion to it.

Go ahead- try it. I’ll wait.

See? “I would die for you.” Because Jesus.

Anyway, I bring this up because a friend of mine recently discovered David Armand. Also known by the character name Johann Lippowitz when performing pantomime, Armand is an absolute genius of a physical comedian.

Now, what I grew up calling pantomime, he’s calling interpretive dance. Call it whatever you want- the man is hilarious. He’s been on WonderVision:

He’s been on the British improv show “Fast and Loose” in his own segment Interpretive Dance

b

And he performed “Torn” on stage live with Natalie Imbruglia at the 2006 Secret Policeman’s Ball for Amnesty International.

So go check him out! Oh, and for you kids who can’t youTube at work but still want to waste some time, head on over to ihatemimes.com and see how far you can launch a mime with Mime Mayhem.

Cause interpretive dance is really just shitty mime to music anyway.